Guess I've been looking at too many seed catalogs lately. But got to thinking that with my new greenhouse up and running last summer I should grow some plants to sell at our once a week Farmer's Market in town a few weeks in the spring. What are your ideas on this ?? Don't expect to make a million but might be fun. Realize that I would have to claim the income, taxes and all of that. Presently have my own "home" business but the company has us pay taxes on the retail cost of the products and not the wholesale price we pay so our taxes are taken care of for us and no hassel with Uncle Sam. So I guess I'm spoiled with that part of it. If anyone has done this could you give me the good and bad of this type of business ??? Looking forward to hearing from you all !! Happy Holidays !!!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), December 19, 2001

Answers

I've sold sassafras root on ebay a few times. Some people will really pay good money for it, and it grows like weeds around here!

I also met a guy who has made money selling mushrooms. I'd like to try that someday, but it takes at least nine months for the mushrooms to grow.

Good luck,

Chuck

-- chuck in md (woah@mission4me.com), December 19, 2001.

Kitchen herbs in antique canning jars can easily fetch $10 to $20 a planter and cost less than $2 apiece in materials to construct if you get the jars at yard sales or estate sales.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 19, 2001.

I sell 7,000 + plants a year mostly perennials & herbs some veg.all from seed. many of the seeds i collect from friends gardens or sometimes wild and my own garden which has over 100 varities in it also order from seed catalogs for new varities. I start my seed in a cabinet with lights and waterbed heaters (covered with sand)got the idea for the cabinet from countryside a few years ago sinnilar to the 1 in this months issue but with plastic sides and doors on the front. Also mix my soil in a soil mixer again from a csmag.I,m very lucky to have a friend who owns a major greenhouse operation and get all my 4in pots and trays free from her. I built my green house out of used lumber and old windows in the fall i cover it all with plastic for extra insulation.for extra space in the early spring i have several coldframes and have made hoop houses from electrial conduit and plastic sheeting if it's below freezing i heat these hoops with 2 kero lamps 1 at each end. I sell all my plants off my front lawn, I live in the country but on a busy connecting hiway.I charge $1.25 ea. or 9 for $10.00 it helps to have a deal like that so more people will spend the extra money to get the extra plant. This has worked well for me 1st year sold less than 1000 and now 5yrs latter i sold almost 7000.(this year i had 127 varities of perennials)

Shawn

-- don't send me any crap (jungleboys@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.

Last year I started growing herb seedlings for a woman with a local nursery who wanted to sell herbs. I start my seedlings in the basement under grow lights. Because the basement is cool, I put heat mats under the flats and make a plastic tent over the lights. It's not as warm as a greenhouse, but I've grown dozens of tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-loving plants this way. The thing I like about growing for someone else is that I love to grow the seedlings, but I hate selling. She pays me when I deliver, and then she can worry about selling them. I also sell her lots of volunteers from my garden--foxglove, feverfew, lambs' ears, etc. You don't get rich, but I made enough last year to cover the costs of my gardening addiction. Check around at local nurseries (not the big chain stores). They frequently will buy unusual plants for resale.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), December 20, 2001.

Helena, I have been selling plants at our local farmers' market for a couple of years. You're right; you will not make millions doing it. But it is fun. I enjoy talking with other gardeners and learn a lot from them, too. Herb plants and houseplants seem to sell the best at my market. Good luck and enjoy!

-- Kris (kkwoestman@yahoo.com), December 21, 2001.

Want to make real money with plants. Enough said.

-- eyes wide open (growhemp@aol.com), December 21, 2001.

I have a 30 x 60 foot disassembled greenhouse in NW WI for sale. It's a complete commercial set-up, everything but the plastic. Email me if you're interested.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), December 22, 2001.

OHHHH, Earthmama, I wish I were closer to you. I would love to buy the greenhouse. Guess I'll have to be satisfied with dreaming for now, and build what I can in the spring. Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), December 22, 2001.